JP2002197767A - Disk changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a disk changer which can quickly bring the housing of a wrong disk to user's attention and the disk can quickly be removed. SOLUTION: A disk changer 20 places and houses a plurality of disk-shaped recording media in a rotary tray 31. When disks are exchanged in the state where a disk to be reproduced among a plurality of housed disks is moved to a prescribed reproduction position, the presence or absence of each disk housed in the rotary tray 31 is detected by sensor groups 34A, 34B, and 34C. When another disk is housed in the storing position of the disk moved to the reproduction position, the rotary tray 31 is automatically rotated, the other disk is transported to a front center position, a disk opening/closing door 24 is released, and then the other disk is forcibly ejected by an ejection rod 31C.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disk changer device provided with a disk storage portion for storing a plurality of disk-shaped recording media, and for extracting a predetermined disk from the disk storage portion and reproducing the disk.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, CDs (Compact Discs), MDs (Mi
A plurality of disc-shaped recording media (hereinafter, referred to as discs) for recording music data such as ni disc) and DVD (Digital Video Disc) are stored, and a specific disc is extracted from these stored discs and played. Disc changer devices have been developed.

[0003] In this type of disc changer device, there are various types of disc storage. For example, a plurality of grooves (hereinafter referred to as stockers) extending in the radial direction are formed as disc storage positions on a rotatable tray, and the stockers are made to stand on the discs to hold and store the discs. A type disk tray (hereinafter, referred to as a rotary tray) has been devised. Further, an elevator type disc tray has been devised in which a plurality of holding shelves are mounted in a stacked manner such that the recording surfaces of the discs are parallel to each other.

In a disk changer device having a rotary tray, when replacing a disk, a front-down type provided on the front surface of the disk changer device,
Alternatively, it is performed through a disk exchange door that is opened and closed in a sliding manner. Further, an operator such as a jog dial operated by a user to rotate the rotary tray is provided.

Further, this type of disc changer device is provided with a sensor group for detecting whether or not a disc is stored in each stocker on the rotary tray. The sensor group detects which position (address) on the rotary tray the disk is stored in, and the disk presence / absence data as the detected data is stored and managed by a microcomputer built in the disk changer device. I have. The operation of detecting the presence / absence of a disk by the sensor group is generally performed after the disk is exchanged, that is, when the disk exchange door is closed, and each time the disk presence / absence data in the microcomputer is updated.

In the above-described conventional disk changeable disk changer device, when playing a disk, a motor for rotating a rotary tray is used.
The rotary tray is rotated so that the designated disk faces a predetermined reproduction position, the disk is clamped by the disk arm, and the disk is conveyed to the reproduction position. At the reproducing position, a disk reproducing device such as a motor for rotating the disk or a pickup unit for reading information recorded on the disk is provided so as to face the recording surface of the disk. , And the position of the pickup is controlled, the pickup is moved to a predetermined information reading position on the recording surface, and the recorded information is read and reproduced.

[0007]

As described above,
The disc being played is pulled out of the rotary tray. Therefore, when the user exchanges the disk during reproduction of the disk, another disk may be stored at a position where the disk is accidentally removed (a position for storing the disk being reproduced).

[0008] In this case, when a reproduction instruction for another disk is input, the disk changer device stops operating because the disk currently being reproduced cannot be stored at the original position. The user is asked why the operation stopped. I had no idea how to confirm and had to consider various factors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a user-friendly disk changer device which allows a user to quickly recognize erroneous storage of a disk. The object of the present invention is to
An object of the present invention is to provide a disc changer device that can quickly remove a disc that has been erroneously stored.

[0010]

In order to solve such problems, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a plurality of disk-shaped recording media stored in a disk storage portion (for example, a rotary tray 31 shown in FIG. 2). (Eg, a disk D shown in FIG. 2), a recording medium to be reproduced is moved to a predetermined reproduction position, and data recorded on the recording medium is reproduced at the reproduction position (for example, FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, the disk arm 33 shown in FIG. 6, the DSP 46, and the pickup unit 47 shown in FIG. 6) In the disk changer device, presence / absence detection means for detecting the presence / absence of each recording medium stored in the disk storage portion (for example, as shown in FIGS. Based on the detection results of the protrusions A and B, the sensor groups 34A, 34B and 34C) and the presence / absence detection means, the recording medium moved to the reproduction position is stored. A discriminating means (for example, microcomputer 40 shown in FIG. 6) for discriminating whether or not another recording medium is stored in the storage position, and this discriminating means determines that another recording medium is stored. In case,
Discharging means (for example, an ejecting rod 31C shown in FIG. 5) for discharging the other recording medium.

Here, it is desirable that the detection of the presence or absence of the recording medium is automatically performed after the operation of exchanging the disk into the disk storage unit, that is, after the door provided in the disk storage unit is closed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the presence / absence detection means detects the presence / absence of each recording medium stored in the disk storage unit, and the storage means for storing the recording medium moved to the reproduction position by the determination means. If it is determined that another recording medium is stored in the recording medium, the discharging means automatically discharges the other recording medium, so that the user can immediately notice the erroneous storage of the recording medium if Instead, the recording medium is automatically ejected, so that the removing operation can be performed quickly. Therefore, an easy-to-use disc changer device can be provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the disk changer device according to the first aspect, the disk storage portion is a door (for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) which is opened and closed when the recording medium is inserted and removed. A disc exchange door 24), and an ejection mechanism (e.g., an eject bar 31C shown in FIG. 5) that pushes the recording medium stored at a predetermined ejection position outward in conjunction with opening of the door. When the discrimination means determines that another recording medium is stored in the storage position for storing the recording medium moved to the reproduction position, the other recording medium is moved to the discharge position. The recording medium is conveyed, the door is opened in this state, and the other recording medium is discharged by the discharging mechanism.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when another recording medium is stored in the storage position for storing the recording medium moved to the reproduction position, the other recording medium is moved to the discharge position. The recording medium is conveyed, the door is opened in this state, and the recording medium is pushed outward by a discharge mechanism interlocked with the opening of the door. You can quickly notice erroneous storage. In particular, since the ejected recording medium is pushed out, it can be confirmed that the recording medium has been ejected from the side of the disc changer device, and the disc changer device is placed so that the door faces sideways. Also in such a case, the user quickly notices the erroneous storage of the recording medium. In addition, since the recording medium has been ejected when the user notices the erroneous storage of the recording medium, the replacement operation of the recording medium can be easily performed thereafter.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a recording medium to be reproduced is moved to a predetermined reproduction position from among a plurality of disk-shaped recording media stored in a disk storage portion, and the recording medium is stored at the predetermined reproduction position. In a disc changer device that reproduces recorded data, presence / absence detection means for detecting the presence / absence of each recording medium stored in the disk storage unit,
Based on the detection result by the presence / absence detection means, a determination means for determining whether or not another storage medium is stored in the storage position for storing the recording medium moved to the reproduction position, Notification means (e.g., the microcomputer 40 and the display unit 2 shown in FIG. 6) for notifying that the recording medium is stored.
3, the display unit 11 of the bidirectional remote controller 10 shown in FIG.
And a sound emitting section 12).

Here, the notifying means is provided for displaying a display unit (for example, the display unit 23 of the disc changer device 20 shown in FIG. 1, the display unit of the bidirectional remote control device 10 for visually notifying the erroneous storage of the recording medium). Display for 11), LE
D (for example, the LED 37 shown in FIG. 2B) or a sound emitting unit (for example, the two-way remote controller 1 shown in FIG.
Any of those that notify by sound emission by the zero sound emitting unit 12) may be used.

According to the disc changer device of the present invention, the presence / absence detection means detects the presence / absence of each recording medium stored in the disk storage unit, and the determination means detects the recording medium moved to the reproduction position. When it is determined that another recording medium is stored in the storage position where the storage medium is stored, the notification unit notifies the user of that fact, so that the user can easily confirm the erroneous storage of the recording medium. Therefore, an easy-to-use disc changer device can be provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the disk changer device according to the third aspect, the notifying means stores another recording medium in a storage position for storing the recording medium moved to the reproduction position. If it is determined, the output information to that effect is output to a remote control terminal (for example, the bidirectional remote control device 10 shown in FIG. 1) for remotely controlling the disc changer device.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that another recording medium is stored in the storage position for storing the recording medium moved to the reproduction position, output information to that effect is output. The disc changer device can be output to a remote control terminal for remote control, and the remote control terminal at hand can notify the user. Therefore, the user can confirm the erroneous storage of the recording medium on the remote operation terminal side even when the disc changer device is not visible.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a disc changer system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an entire configuration of a disc changer system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The disc changer system 1 includes a disc changer device 20, a bidirectional remote controller 10 for remotely controlling the disc changer device 20,
Composed of

The two-way remote controller 10 has an LCD (Liquor
display unit 11 composed of an id Crystal Display) or the like,
The disc changer device 20 includes a sound emitting unit 12 including a piezoelectric buzzer or the like that emits a beep sound or a predetermined pattern of sound, and an operation unit 13 including a key group and switches for inputting various operations. An infrared communication interface including a light receiving unit and a light emitting unit for performing bidirectional infrared communication with the control unit, and a control unit for controlling these units.

The bidirectional remote control device 10 emits light from the light emitting unit to transmit various operation signals input from the operation unit 13 to the disc changer device 20 and receives an infrared signal transmitted from the disc changer device 20. The light receiving unit decodes the received light signal and performs an operation according to the received light signal. For example, an operation of receiving predetermined display data transmitted from the disc changer device 20 and displaying it on the display unit 11 or receiving a sound emission control signal and emitting a beep sound or the like from the sound emission unit 12 is performed. .

The bidirectional remote control device 10 is an example of a remote control terminal for remotely controlling the disc changer device 20. As the remote control terminal, for example, a cable, infrared communication, short-range wireless communication, etc. , Or a personal computer, PDA, or game device connected via a public network such as the Internet, or a mobile phone terminal connected via a mobile communication network.

The disc changer device 20 includes an operation unit 22, a display unit 23, and a disc replacement door 24 on an operation panel 21 on the front surface.
A rotary tray 31 (see FIG. 2) capable of storing zero disk-shaped recording media (hereinafter, referred to as disks) is provided.

The operation unit 22 is used to input an open key and a close key for operating the opening / closing of the disk exchange door 24, or a play key, a stop key, a search key for operating reproduction and stop of the disk, and an address number of the disk. The microcomputer 40 includes a group of various operation keys such as numerical keys operated by the user, and outputs a pressing signal of the pressed key to the microcomputer 40.

The display unit 23 is constituted by an LCD or the like.
Various display data output from the microcomputer 40 are displayed. For example, the operation mode of the rotary operation of the rotary tray 31 (during rotational movement, disk search, etc.), the open / close state of the disk exchange door 24, the display of the address number of the disk being played, the track number of the song being played, and the like, The presence / absence display or the information display of the erroneous storage of the disk is performed.

The disc replacement door 24 is a door that can be opened and closed, such as a forward-moving door that falls forward (outward) or a sliding door that opens and closes in a sliding manner to the left and right. Part of the front is open and the internal rotary tray 3
1 is exposed. The operation of exchanging disks with respect to the rotary tray 31 can be performed with the disk exchange door 24 opened. This disk exchange door 2
4 is driven by a door opening / closing motor 49 (see FIG. 2). The door opening / closing motor 49 operates according to an opening / closing control signal supplied from the microcomputer 40.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a schematic configuration of the disk storage unit 30 provided in the disk changer device 20, wherein FIG. 2A is a top view and FIG. 2B is a side view of the disk storage unit 30.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the disk storage section 30 includes a rotary tray 31, a rotary tray motor 32, a disk arm 33, and sensor groups 34A and 34.
B and 34C are provided on a substrate 35, and each unit is connected to the microcomputer 40 shown in FIG. 6 or each of the drivers 43, 44, and 45 for driving and controlling them.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the rotary tray 31 is provided on a rotating disk having a plurality of grooves extending in the radial direction from the center thereof by standing a disk D in accordance with the grooves. D is held and stored, and is mounted at the center of the substrate 35. Hereinafter, disk D
Are referred to as stockers 31A. When the rotary tray 31 holds the disks D in all of the stockers 31A, it is possible to store, for example, 200 disks D.

As shown in FIG. 2B, a disc D is placed in the center of the rotary tray 31.
A stopper 36 for positioning when mounted on A is provided upright, and an LED 37 for lighting up the stored disk D is provided on a side surface on the front side of the stopper 36.

The rotary tray 31 rotates by the power of a rotary tray motor 32. The rotary tray motor 32 rotationally drives the rotary tray 31 according to a drive control signal output from the rotary tray control motor driver 44 (see FIG. 6).
Each stocker 31A on the rotary tray 31 is transported to an accurate transport position.

The disk arm 33 takes out one selected disk D from the rotary tray 31 in accordance with a control signal output from the disk arm control motor driver 45 (see FIG. 6), and moves the disk D to the reproduction position. set. When the reproducing operation is completed, the original is stored in the original stocker 31A of the rotary tray 31 again.

The sensor groups 34A, 34B, 34C are constituted by photocouplers and detect the presence or absence of the disc D placed on each stocker 31A of the rotary tray 31. That is, while detecting the address number assigned to each stocker 31A, the presence or absence of the disk D in each stocker 31A is detected.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the projections A and B formed on the rotary tray 31 and the sensor groups 34A and 34B.
FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the rotary tray 31 on which the disk D is mounted, and FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating the back surface of the rotary tray 31, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing protrusions A and B formed on a part of the back surface of the rotary tray 31.

3 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a projection A is formed on a predetermined radius on the back side of the rotary tray 31 and corresponds to a position where each disk D is placed. The protrusion B is formed so as to be located on a predetermined radius on the outer peripheral side of the radius where the protrusion A is provided on the side. The projection B is the projection A, for example, 2
The projections are formed at intervals of 0, and the number of projections is increased by 1 at intervals of 20 of the projections A, so that the projections A can be distinguished from each other.

Specifically, for example, the rotary tray 3
When 200 discs D can be mounted on 1, the number of the projections A is 200, and the number of the projections B0 (the number of the projections is 1); The projection B1 (2 projections), the projection B9 (9 projections) at the clockwise position across the projection B0, the projection B2 (3 projections) at the counterclockwise position of the projection B1, and the projection B9 Are formed at positions on the clockwise side of the projections B8 (eight projections),.... Here, the term "projection B" refers to each projection B0, B
1,..., B9 or as a generic term.

20 projections A are formed between the projections B0 and B1, and the address numbers of each stocker 31A are from 1 to 20 from the projection B0 side to the projection B1 side.
Are numbered, and 20 is provided between the projection B1 and the projection B2.
The protrusions A are formed, and the address number of each stocker 31A is 2 from the protrusion B1 side to the protrusion B2 side.
Numbers 1 to 40 are assigned. Similarly, the position of each projection A, that is, the address number 41 to 20 is assigned to each stocker 31A.
0 is respectively assigned.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a sensor support plate 34 is provided at a position above the rotary tray 31 and separated by the size of the disk D, and the sensor support plate 34 is mounted on the rotary tray 31. Disk D placed
The light emitting diode 34C is provided at a position where the light is blocked by the light.

On the substrate 35, the first photocoupler 34A is shielded from light by the projection A in the radial direction of the rotary tray 31, the second photocoupler 34B is shielded from light by the projection B, and faces the light emitting diode 34C. A phototransistor 34c is provided at the position, and the light emitting diode 34C and the phototransistor 34c
It constitutes a photocoupler.

By the rotary drive of the rotary tray 31,
The protrusion A is detected by the first photocoupler 34A, the protrusion B is detected by the second photocoupler 34B, and the output numbers of the first and second photocouplers 34A and 34B cooperate to change the address number of each stocker 31A. Is detected. When the disc D is placed on the stocker 31A, the light of the light emitting diode 34C is
The third photocoupler 3 detects that the disc D is mounted (the disc is present).

The address numbers detected by the sensor groups 34A, 34B, and 34C and the presence / absence detection data of the disk D corresponding to the address numbers are stored in the RAM of the microcomputer 40. This disk presence detection operation is performed when the disk is replaced, that is, when the power is turned on or when the disk replacement door 24 is opened and closed. When reproducing the disk D, it is possible to specify which disk D is to be transported to the reproduction position and reproduced by the address number stored in the RAM.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an example of a disc ejection mechanism of the disc changer device 20. FIG. 5A shows one stocker 31 formed on the rotary tray 31.
A is a top view, and (B) and (C) are side sectional views of the stocker 31A on which the disk D is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a slit 31B is formed at a predetermined position near the inner periphery of the stocker 31A of the rotary tray 31. Also, as shown in FIG. 5B, an eject bar 31C for pushing up the disc D placed on each stocker 31A is provided on the back surface side of the rotary tray 31. The ejection rod 31C is formed of a substantially L-shaped plate having a width smaller than the slit width, and is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft provided at any position between both ends. The other end extends toward the outer extension of the tray 31, and the other end penetrates the slit 31 </ b> B when one end is rotated downward, and pushes up the disk D.

The other end is cut out in an arc or oblique shape so as to match the shape of the outer periphery of the disk D. When the disk D is pushed up, a part of the disk D is moved outward (from the stocker 31A). (Right side in the figure).

The ejection rod 31C is connected to the stocker 3
1A is provided. When the rotary tray 31 is rotated and the stocker 31A to be ejected from the disc is conveyed to the center position (ejection position) of the disc exchange door 24, the above-mentioned one end is provided. Are in contact with the disc replacement door 24 via a gear (not shown). The gear rotates in conjunction with the opening of the disc replacement door 24, and one end of the gear is moved downward as shown in FIG. 5C, and the eject bar 31C rotates about the rotation axis. And the other end passes through the slit 31B, and the disk D
Push up and discharge.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing the internal circuit of the disc changer device 20. As shown in FIG. 6, the disc changer device 20 includes a microcomputer 40, an operation unit 22, a display unit 23, and a sensor group 34.
A, 34B, 34C, LED 37, door opening / closing motor driver 43 for driving / controlling door opening / closing motor 49, rotary tray control motor driver 44 for driving / controlling rotary tray motor 32, disk arm control motor driver 45 for driving / controlling disk arm 33. , A DSP 46 and a pickup unit 47, which are a reproduction system of the disk D, and a remote control communication unit 51.

The microcomputer 40 includes an operation unit 22
Alternatively, according to an operation signal input from the remote control communication unit 51, the operation of each unit of the disc changer device 20 is controlled, and the processing result is stored in the RAM and displayed on the display unit 23, or is notified by the LED 37, or Bidirectional remote control device 10 via remote control communication unit 51
Output to The microcomputer 40 controls the rotating operation of the rotary tray 31, the opening and closing operation of the disk exchange door 24, the operation of transporting the disk by the disk arm 33, the operation of reproducing the disk D, and the sensor groups 34A, 34B,
34C, an operation of detecting the address of the disk D, an operation of detecting the presence or absence of the disk D, driving of the display unit 23, and an operation of communicating with the bidirectional remote controller 10.

The microcomputer 40 causes the sensor groups 34A, 34B, and 34C to perform address detection and disk presence / absence detection when the power is turned on or when the disk replacement door 24 is closed, so that the sensor groups 34A, 34B, 34
Based on each detection signal input from C, an address number and disk presence / absence data corresponding to the address number are stored in a RAM (not shown) in the microcomputer 40.

The microcomputer 40 controls each section of the disc changer device 20 based on various operation control signals supplied from the remote control communication section 51.

Also, the disc changer device 20
It is also possible to connect to an external device such as a personal computer or an external recording device via an external interface (not shown). When connected to a personal computer, the playback data and index data of the disc D, or each disc D
The personal computer manages these data, downloads the data managed by the personal computer to the disc changer device 20, or operates the disc changer by operating the personal computer. The reproduction operation of the device 20 and the like can be remotely controlled.

When connecting to an external recording device,
The microcomputer 40 can output the reproduction data of the disc D to the connected external recording device and record the data on a predetermined recording medium provided in the external recording device.

The door opening / closing motor driver 43 drives the door opening / closing motor 49 based on the opening / closing control signal output from the microcomputer 40, and opens and closes the disk exchange door 24 provided on the operation panel 21 of the disk changer device 20. Do.

Rotary tray control motor driver 4
4 drives the rotary tray motor 32 based on the drive control signal output from the microcomputer 40 to rotate the rotary tray 31.

Disk arm control motor driver 45
Drives the disk arm 33 based on the control signal output from the microcomputer 40, and performs operations such as clamping the disk D by the disk arm 33 and transporting the disk D to the reproduction position.

DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 46
Decodes encoded digital data output from a pickup unit 47 described later by a decoding method corresponding to the recording method of the disk D, converts the data into a data format that can be processed by the microcomputer 40, and outputs the data to the microcomputer 40. I do.

The pickup unit 47 reads the encoded digital data recorded on the disk D set at the reproduction position, and outputs it to the DSP 46.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process when a disc is exchanged during disc reproduction in the disc changer system 1.

First, the operation unit 22 of the disc changer device 20 or the operation unit 13 of the bidirectional remote control device 10
When a selection instruction signal for instructing selection of the disc D to be reproduced and a reproduction start signal for instructing start of reproduction of the disc D are input, the microcomputer 40 of the disc changer device 20 starts the reproducing operation ( Step S1). In the reproducing operation, the microcomputer 40 includes a rotary tray control motor driver 44.
And the rotary tray 31 is rotated so that the storage position of the selected disk D is at a position facing the disk arm 33.

When the storage position of the selected disk D on the rotary tray 31 is rotated to a position facing the disk arm 33, a disk arm control signal is supplied to the disk arm control motor driver 45, and the disk arm 33 , Disk D stored in that position
Is clamped and transported to a predetermined reproduction position. Thereafter, the data recorded on the disk D is read by the pickup unit 47, and the data is decoded and reproduced by the DSP 46.

Here, it is assumed that the selected disk D is the disk D placed on the rotary tray 31 at the address number “x”.

While the disk D having the address number “x” is being reproduced, the operation unit 2 of the disk changer 20
2 or from the operation unit 13 of the interactive remote control device 10
An instruction to open the disk replacement door 24 is input (step S
2) When the operator such as a jog dial is further operated (step S3), the microcomputer 40 outputs an opening control signal to the door opening / closing motor driver 43 in accordance with each operation to open the disk replacement door 24, Further, a drive control signal is output to the rotary tray control motor driver 44 to rotate the rotary tray 31. Here, by the disk replacement work performed by the user,
It is assumed that another disk D is placed on the stocker 31A that stores the disk D currently being reproduced.

Thereafter, the operation unit 22 of the disc changer device 20 or the operation unit 1 of the bidirectional remote control device 10
When an instruction to close the disc replacement door 24 is input from 3, the microcomputer 40 supplies an opening / closing control signal to the door opening / closing motor driver 43 to close the disc replacement door 24. Thereafter, the microcomputer 40 causes the sensor groups 34A, 34B, and 34C to perform the operation of detecting the presence or absence of the disk D.

In the operation for detecting the presence / absence of the disk D, the microcomputer 40 drives the rotary tray control motor driver 44 to rotate the rotary tray 31, and also drives the sensor groups 34A, 34B, 34C, and the address and the address of each stocker 31A. , That stocker 3
1A, the presence or absence of the disk D is detected, and disk presence / absence data as a result of the detection is obtained (step S).
4).

Thereafter, the microcomputer 40 determines whether or not the disk D is stored in the stocker 31A having the address number "x" currently being reproduced, based on the disk presence / absence data (step S5). If the disk D is not stored in the stocker 31A of the address number "x" (Step S5; No), the operation of detecting the presence or absence of the disk is terminated, and the operation of reproducing the disk D being reproduced is continued.

If another disk D 'is stored in the stocker 31A having the address number "x" (step S
5; Yes), the microcomputer 40 notifies that the disk is erroneously stored (step S6). Here, specific examples of notification of erroneous storage of a disc are shown in FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 8, the display unit 23 of the disc changer device 20 or the bidirectional remote control device 10
Is displayed on the display unit 11 of “REMOVE DISC 10
A character display 111 such as "0" is displayed to indicate the address number of the erroneously stored disk, and a message 110a for instructing to remove the disk is displayed, or FIG.
As shown in the graphic display 112 shown in FIG.
Rotary tray display 11 schematically showing the whole from the top
2a, the position where the disk is erroneously stored is indicated by a line 112b in the rotary tray display 112a,
It blinks and issues a warning.

Further, the disk storage unit 3 shown in FIG.
The LED 37 provided inside 0 may be made to blink. Alternatively, a beep sound or a predetermined pattern of sound may be emitted from the sound emitting unit of the disc changer device 20 or the sound emitting unit 12 of the two-way remote control device 10, so that the erroneous storage of the disc may be notified audibly.

Thereafter, the microcomputer 40 rotates the rotary tray 31 to move the stocker 31A of the address number "x" in which the disk D is erroneously stored to the front center position, that is, the disk discharge position (step S7). . In this state, one end of the eject bar 31C provided on the stocker 31A having the address number "x" comes into contact with the disk exchange door 24 via a gear. Thereafter, the microcomputer 40 sets the door opening / closing motor driver 43
, To open the disk exchange door 24 (step S8). One end of the eject bar 31C is pushed downward in conjunction with the opening of the disc exchange door 24, and the other end is pushed upward accordingly, and the disc D
Is pushed out, and the disc is ejected (ejected) (step S9).

When the disk D is ejected,
Rotary tray 3 to prevent disc D from being damaged
The rotation operation of the rotary tray 1, the operation of storing the disk being played along with the rotation operation of the rotary tray 31, or the reproduction operation are restricted.

As described above, the rotary tray 3
In the disc changer device 20 in which the disc D is extracted from the disc 1 and reproduced, the disc is exchanged into the disc storage unit 30 by a user operation while the disc is being reproduced, and the disc D being reproduced is stored. If another disk D 'has been stored in the proper position, the fact that the disk is stored incorrectly is displayed or sounded on the disk changer device 20 or the bidirectional remote control device 10 to provide visual or audible information. To inform.

Therefore, the user can quickly notice that the disk is erroneously stored. In particular, when the notification is performed by the bidirectional remote control device 10, even when the disc changer device 20 is stored in a rack or the display unit 23 is placed so as to be hidden, the bidirectional remote control device 10 is at hand.
Thus, it can be confirmed that the disk is incorrectly stored.

If the disk is erroneously stored, the rotary tray 31 is automatically rotated to move the erroneously stored disk D 'to the center position of the disk replacement door 24, and the disk is replaced in this state. The door 24 is automatically opened to prompt the exchange of the erroneously stored disk. In addition, an erroneously stored disk is forcibly ejected by an eject bar 31C (disc ejecting mechanism) interlocked with the opening of the disc exchange door 24.

When the disc is ejected, usable functions of the disc changer device 20 are limited, so that the user can quickly notice the erroneous storage of the disc. Further, since the erroneously stored disk is forcibly ejected and protruded outward, the user can quickly recognize that the disk is erroneously stored even when the disk changer device 20 is viewed from the side. .

Further, since a disc ejection mechanism for ejecting the disc in conjunction with the opening operation of the disc exchange door 24 is provided, the user can erroneously store the disc by visual or audible notification or forced ejection of the disc. When the user notices that the disc has been ejected, the user has to remove the disc replacement door 2 in order to remove the disc that has been incorrectly stored.
It is possible to easily perform the operation of removing the erroneously stored disk without performing the operation of opening the disk 4 or the like.

The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the disk storage unit 30
A plurality of disks are stored in a stack, and the selected disk is moved to a predetermined reproduction position or a discharge position by an elevator type transport mechanism that can move up and down to the height of each disk storage position placed in the stack. It may be an elevator type disk storage unit for transport.

The playback position at which the disk is played back may be provided at the center of the rotary tray 31 or may be provided outside the rotary tray 31.

The disk D stored and reproduced by the disk changer device 20 may be any type of CD, MD, DVD, or any other disk-shaped recording medium.

The disc ejection mechanism is provided with a slit at a center position (ejection position) of the stopper 36 provided at the center of the rotary tray 31 facing the disc exchange door 24, for example. An eject bar is provided at a position corresponding to the lock button of the disk exchange door 24, and the disk exchange door 2
When the lock of 4 is released and opened, the eject bar may protrude forward, and the disc may be ejected outward through the slit.

[0081]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the presence / absence detection means detects presence / absence of each recording medium stored in the disk storage unit, and the determination means stores the recording medium moved to the reproduction position. When it is determined that another recording medium is stored in the storage position, the other recording medium is automatically discharged by the discharging unit, so that the user can quickly notice the erroneous storage of the recording medium. In addition, since the recording medium is automatically discharged, the removal operation can be performed quickly. Therefore, an easy-to-use disc changer device can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when another recording medium is stored in the storage position for storing the recording medium moved to the reproduction position, the other recording medium is conveyed to the discharge position. In this state, the door is opened, and the recording medium is pushed outward by an ejection mechanism interlocked with the opening of the door, so that the erroneously stored recording medium is forcibly ejected, and the user is required to erroneously store the recording medium. Can be noticed quickly. In particular, since the ejected recording medium is pushed out, it can be confirmed that the recording medium has been ejected from the side of the disc changer device, and the disc changer device is placed so that the door faces sideways. Also in such a case, the user quickly notices the erroneous storage of the recording medium. In addition, since the recording medium has been ejected when the user notices the erroneous storage of the recording medium, the replacement operation of the recording medium can be easily performed thereafter.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the presence or absence of each recording medium stored in the disk storage unit is detected by the presence / absence detection means, and the storage position where the recording medium moved to the reproduction position is stored by the determination means. In addition, when it is determined that another recording medium is stored, the information is notified by the notification means, so that the user can easily confirm the erroneous storage of the recording medium. Therefore, an easy-to-use disc changer device can be provided.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that another recording medium is stored in the storage position for storing the recording medium moved to the reproduction position, output information to that effect is output. The disc changer device can be output to a remote control terminal for remote control, and the remote control terminal at hand can notify the user. Therefore, the user can confirm the erroneous storage of the recording medium on the remote operation terminal side even when the disc changer device is not visible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an entire configuration of a disc changer system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a disk storage unit 30 provided in the disk changer device 20;

FIG. 3 shows protrusions A formed on a rotary tray 31;
FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of B and sensor groups 34A, 34B, 34C.

FIG. 4 shows protrusions A formed on a rotary tray 31;
FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of B and sensor groups 34A, 34B, 34C.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a disc ejection mechanism of the disc changer device 20.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing an internal circuit of the disc changer device 20.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process when a disc is exchanged during disc reproduction in the disc changer system 1.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a notification display of erroneous storage of a disk.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a notification display of erroneous storage of a disk.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Disc changer system 10 Bidirectional remote control device 11 Display part 12 Sound emission part 13 Operation part 20 Disk changer apparatus 21 Operation panel 22 Operation part 23 Display part 24 Disk exchange door 30 Disk storage part 31 Rotary tray 31A Stocker 31B Slit 31C Eject bar 32 Rotary tray motor 33 Disk arm 34 Sensor support plate 34A, 34B, 34C Sensor group 35 Substrate 36 Stopper 37 LED 40 Microcomputer 43 Door open / close motor driver 44 Rotary tray control motor driver 45 Disk arm control motor driver 46 DSP 47 Pickup unit 49 Door opening / closing motor 51 Remote control communication unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium to be reproduced is moved from a plurality of disk-shaped recording media stored in a disk storage unit to a predetermined reproduction position, and data recorded on the recording medium is reproduced at the reproduction position. A presence / absence detection unit for detecting the presence / absence of each recording medium stored in the disk storage unit; and storing the recording medium moved to the reproduction position based on a detection result by the presence / absence detection unit. Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not another recording medium is stored in the storage position; and ejecting the another recording medium when the discriminating means determines that another recording medium is stored. A disc changer device, comprising: discharging means. 2. The disk storage section includes a door that is opened and closed when the recording medium is inserted and removed, and pushes the recording medium stored at a predetermined discharge position outward in conjunction with opening of the door. A discharging mechanism, wherein the discharging unit is configured to determine whether another recording medium is stored in the storage position for storing the recording medium moved to the reproduction position by the determination unit. 2. The disc changer device according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is transported to the discharge position, the door is opened in this state, and the other recording medium is discharged by the discharge mechanism. 3. A recording medium to be reproduced is moved to a predetermined reproduction position from among a plurality of disk-shaped recording media stored in a disk storage unit, and data recorded on the recording medium is reproduced at the reproduction position. A presence / absence detection unit for detecting the presence / absence of each recording medium stored in the disk storage unit; and storing the recording medium moved to the reproduction position based on a detection result by the presence / absence detection unit. Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not another recording medium is stored in the storage position; and notifying means for notifying, when the discriminating means determines that another recording medium is stored, that fact. A disc changer device comprising: 4. The discriminating means, when it is determined that another recording medium is stored in the storage position for storing the recording medium moved to the reproduction position, outputs output information to that effect to the disc. 4. The disc changer according to claim 3, wherein the output is outputted to a remote control terminal for remotely controlling the changer.